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The New Delta Treatment plant, developed by the JV comprising Metito, Orascom Construction PLC, Hassan Allam Holding, The Arab Contractors, was awarded some of the most coveted industry awards;
– Engineering News-Record (ENR) Global Best Projects Awards 2023 (Water projects Category)
– MEED | Middle East Economic Digest Projects Awards : National Winner Water Treatment Project of the Year – Egypt
– Big 5 Global : Partnership of the Year -The Middle East
– Big 5 Impact Awards: Power and Water Project of the Year 2023
– Big 5 Egypt Impact Awards: Partnership of the Year -The Middle East

Earlier this year, the project also secured four Guinness World Records.

The New Delta Treatment plant is the largest of its kind in the world, with a capacity of 7.5 million cubic meters per day, and it serves as a fundamental component of Egypt’s water agenda and strategy for expanding the agricultural area by optimizing freshwater usage and constructing climate-smart water infrastructure. This global recognition is a testament to the unwavering commitment and teamwork behind this world-class project that is revolutionizing and setting unprecedented agricultural and environmental preservation standards. The project is not just a milestone for Egypt but for the world.

Metito Utilities and Tahliya Group sign an agreement to jointly develop two projects in Morocco.

Dubai, Dec. 5^th —President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and King Mohammed VI of the Kingdom of Morocco signed a declaration on December 4^th,2023, to develop a “solid and innovative partnership” in efforts to develop economic, trade, and investment cooperation. Following this announcement, Metito Utilities, a global investor and developer of sustainable water management solutions and climate resilient water assets, signed an agreement with Tahliya Group, a prominent UAE-based infrastructure company specializing in power generation and desalinated water production plants in Africa. Together, Metito and Tahliya intend to develop a multi-user irrigation project, by way of desalinated water, in Morrocco. The desalination projects will be powered by renewable energy.

The official signing ceremony took place at the Metito’s offices in the National Industries Park in Dubai, coinciding with the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The event was hosted by Rami Ghandour, CEO Metito Utilities and Zouheir Bensaid, the Chairman and CEO of Tahliya Group.

In response to the unveiling of this strategic partnership, Rami Ghandour expressed, “Metito’s founding principles are Impact, Sustainability, and Innovation. Guided by these principles, we are thrilled to join forces with Tahliya Group to adeptly tackle pressing issues concerning water scarcity, food security, and sustainable development in Morocco. Leveraging Metito’s proficiency in high-value engineering, coupled with our proven track record in developing large-scale desalination plants, and Tahliya Group’s expertise in infrastructure development, we are poised to establish a sustained and meaningful impact through the projects we are developing together.”  Metito has topped the global charts for being the provider of the largest desalination plants, in capacity, for 2 years in a row 2021-22 and 2022-23 as announced by the Global Water Intelligence report.

Zouheir Bensaid, Chairman and CEO of Tahliya Group, underscored the significance of both projects, “Aligned with the UN Sustainability Development Goals, Metito and Tahliya Group, will mark a new milestone in the water industry by developing alternative energy powered desalination plants at a scale, for the purpose of irrigation in Morocco.  Both companies possess all essential attributes and a shared vision that positions this collaboration as one poised for genuine impact on the communities and individuals we aim to reach through our projects. We are confident that our projects will result in substantial and far-reaching effects.”

Morocco is a key market for Metito and Tahliya which promises immense potential as an investment hub, given the nation’s diverse assets and conducive business climate. Metito will examine mobilising multiple pockets of capital and expertise to realise the planned projects, including potentially Africa Water Infrastructure Development (AWID).

Awarded #1 on the 2022-23 List of  ‘’World’s Top Desalination Plant Suppliers’’

For the second consecutive year, Metito has been listed  ‘’World Top Desalination Plant Suppliers’’ by Global Water Intelligence (GWI) magazine, a leading publisher and event’s organizer for the international water industry. The list is ranked by the awarded capacity and published in GWI Magazine, October 2023 issue.

Scaling up desalination plants and optimizing operations through high-value engineering, advanced technology, and efficient management has been fundamental in Metito’s pursuit of enabling water security and addressing water scarcity. Ranking up this annual chart is a testament to the trust Metito acquired over the years as a leading provider of intelligent water management solutions and reflects Metito’s founding principles of Impact, Sustainability, and Innovation.

GWI’s Top 20 Desalination Plant Suppliers list is sourced from the GWI DesalData and International Desalination Association (IDA) – Desal Plant Inventory and is published annually. This top chart shows the leading suppliers of plants contracted since the start of 2022.

Mega greenfield project will be developed under a build, own, operate, and transfer (BOOT) concession model with a tenor of 30 years

25 September 2023: A consortium of Orascom Construction and Metito, together with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company PJSC (ADNOC) and Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC (TAQA), has achieved the successful financial close in record time for a large-scale seawater treatment and water transportation project in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, UAE.

The project will comprise a seawater nanofiltration plant with a treatment capacity of more than 110 million imperial gallons per day (500,000 m³/day) in addition to a water transmission pipeline of approximately 75km, and an in-field distribution network of more than 230km to support reservoir pressure maintenance in the Bab and Bu Hasa fields in Abu Dhabi.

This important milestone allows the project to move at full speed on the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) level, with commercial operations scheduled for June 2026.

The investment to develop the project, worth USD 2.2 billion, is comprised of a combination of debt and equity. Non-recourse project financing will be provided by Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, Commercial Bank of Dubai, Emirates Development Bank, Emirates NBD Bank, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Gulf International Bank, Natixis, and Warba Bank.

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 24 May 2023: A consortium of Orascom Construction and Metito will, together with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company PJSC (ADNOC) and Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC (TAQA), develop, own, and operate a large-scale seawater treatment and water transportation project worth up to $2.4 billion in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, UAE. Orascom Construction is the consortium leader.

The greenfield project will be funded through a special purpose vehicle (SPV) on a build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) model for 30 years. ADNOC and TAQA will jointly hold a 51% stake in the SPV, and Orascom Construction and Metito will own 49% (24.5% each).

The mega project will comprise a greenfield seawater nanofiltration plant with a treatment capacity of more than 110 million imperial gallons per day (500,000 m3 /day) in addition to seawater intake and outfall facilities, pumping stations, a water transmission pipeline of approximately 75km, and an infield distribution network of more than 230km to support reservoir pressure maintenance in the Bab and Bu Hasa fields in Abu Dhabi.

The project will replace the current aquifer water injection systems used for maintaining reservoir pressure in ADNOC’s onshore oil fields, thereby ensuring sustainable water supply for ADNOC’s onshore operations while preserving the UAE’s natural aquifer resources. The project will also enhance energy efficiency by up to 30% and reduce ADNOC’s environmental footprint compared to the current injection system.

Osama Bishai, CEO of Orascom Construction, commented, “We are proud to partner with ADNOC and TAQA to deliver a project that is key to the sustainable development of the UAE’s oil and gas sector. We started our focus on important water projects over a decade ago and have since played a major role in undertaking some of the most complex projects in this sector. We are also very pleased to strengthen our presence in the UAE as we continue to target strategic projects in the region across sectors in which we have developed strong expertise. This project also plays a key role in our growth strategy to pursue infrastructure investments that provide both construction opportunities and longterm recurring income.”

Rami Ghandour, Metito Managing Director, emphasized, “The UAE established its name as the leader for knowledge-based, future-focused economic strategies and a leader in combating climate change and promoting water positivity. Being a global hub for innovations and sustainable practices, this mega project is testament of how capitalizing on technology can revolutionize industry norms and practices to best preserve valuable water resources and the environment. Over the years Metito has built a strategic project portfolio of mega concession projects and iconic world and industry firsts and we are confident this will be a landmark project and a global milestone. We are honoured to be part of this.”

Orascom Construction PLC is a leading global engineering and construction contractor primarily focused on infrastructure, industrial and high-end commercial projects in the Middle East, Africa, and the United States. The Group also develops and invests in infrastructure opportunities, owns 50% of BESIX Group, and holds a building materials, facility management and equipment services portfolio.

Orascom Construction has been executing its strategy to build, own and operate projects in the water and concessions sectors, and has been strengthening its leading position as a key player across the region.

Most recently, the Group completed some of the largest projects in the water treatment sector worldwide such as Bahr El Baqr Water Treatment Plant in Egypt, the largest in the world with a capacity of 5.6 million m3/day, and Abu Rawash Wastewater Treatment Plant in Egypt, one of the largest in the world to be executed in one phase with a capacity of 1.6 million m3/day.

In addition, the Group is the co-owner and co-developer of Egypt’s first PPP project, New Cairo Wastewater Treatment Plant, and Saudi Arabia’s first Independent Sewage Treatment Plant (ISTP) project, Dammam West ISTP. Orascom Construction is dual listed in the UAE and Egypt (Nasdaq Dubai: OC; EGX: ORAS).

• Metito and British International Investment join forces to establish Africa Water Infrastructure Development (AWID) platform.
• The new platform aims to address water insecurity and will create a viable commercial model for investment in water infrastructure and provision in Africa.

Cairo – 12 March 2023: Metito Utilities Limited (MUL), a global investor and operator of water, wastewater, and alternative energy management solutions, and British International Investment (BII), the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor, announced the launch of their new company Africa Water Infrastructure Development “AWID”, a first-of-its-kind platform to develop climate-smart water projects at scale and to increase water security across Africa.

The official launch of AWID took place at the British Embassy in Cairo, and was hosted by the British Ambassador, Gareth Bayley; MD and Head of Africa for BII, Chris Chijiutomi and Metito MD, Rami Ghandour. The launch was attended by key business leaders in Egypt and from across Africa as well as leading government officials.

Water insecurity is a critical development challenge in Africa.[1] Climate change is expected to reduce water availability and increase the extent of water scarcity, exacerbating existing water-related vulnerabilities caused by other socio-economic factors.[2]   Water quality deterioration is also a major threat among communities throughout Africa as most wastewater generated remains untreated. The significant gap in storage, supply, and access to clean water and sanitation services urgently calls for effective and efficient water management infrastructure.

Climate-induced changes in the water cycle is impacting the provision of water supply to health, economies and food, and increasing inequality of water access.2 COP27 recognised the interdependencies of the water-food-energy nexus, and the implications of climate change, calling for scaled-up investments in water solutions to mitigate, adapt, and increase resilience to the adverse effects of climate change in Africa.

The new platform, AWID, will finance water and wastewater management treatment plants as well as develop and construct world-class facilities that will help to increase access to sustainable, safe and reliable water with a clear focus on countries that are most vulnerable to the climate crisis.

AWID will demonstrate a viable commercial model for water infrastructure and provision in Africa, helping to mobilise long-term investment into the sector. Its investments will integrate green technologies and alternative energy components, which will help to reduce the environmental footprint of water infrastructure projects.

An operational bulk surface water treatment plant in Kigali-Rwanda forms the first asset under the new platform. The 40,000 cubic meters per day plant is currently providing over 25 per cent of the city’s potable water supply, meeting the needs of 500,000 domestic, commercial, and industrial consumers. The Kigali water treatment plant is a public-private partnership (PPP), which is the first of its type under this business model in sub-Saharan Africa (outside of South Africa).

Andrew Mitchell, UK Minister for Development and Africa said: “The climate emergency has made water insecurity a major development challenge in Africa. BII’s partnership with Metito to launch the AWID platform, signals the UK’s continuing commitment to increase development and climate partnerships and financing to help the most vulnerable people and countries impacted by climate change.” 

Commenting on the new partnership, Rami Ghandour, Managing Director of Metito said: “As Africa undergoes rapid urbanisation, there is a pressing demand for water infrastructure. Such projects are particularly capital intensive. An increasing funding gap requires mobilising sustainable investments into the sector. Our partnership with BII will leverage our high-value engineering and use of innovative technologies with access to unrivalled financial resources and support.”

Chris Chijiutomi, MD and Head of Africa at BII added: “Our partnership with Metito is part of BII’s strategy to improve development outcomes by investing in water, sanitation and hygiene. AWID will demonstrate to other investors, governments and operators that private investment can deliver operationally efficient and high-impact water infrastructure projects at scale, that have the potential to drive transformative and sustainable impact in Africa.”

Commenting on the launch, Morgan Landy, Global Director for Infrastructure at the International Finance Corporation (IFC) said: “Investing in water infrastructure is a strategic priority for IFC in Africa and we are working with the private sector to close the funding gap in this critical sector. As a long-standing Metito shareholder, IFC is proud to witness the launch of this new Africa-focused platform that will invest in climate-smart water projects, further promoting economic growth and building a more water-secure Africa.”

AWID will help to contribute to the UN’s Sustainable Goals (SDG 3) on Good Health and Well-being, (SDG5) on Gender Equality, (SDG 6) on Clean Water and Sanitation and (SG13) on Climate Action.

[1] UNU-INWEH (2022), State of Water Security in Africa A Preliminary Assessment v5-Final

[2] Trisos, C.H. et al (2022), Africa. In: Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Public Private Partnerships Taking the Gulf Region by Storm

Public Works Authority “Ashghal” Awards the Consortium “Metito”, “Al Attiyah Motors & Trading Company”, and “Gulf Investment Corporation”, Qatar’s First Sewage Treatment PPP Project – With a Total Project Cost of appx. 5.4 billion Qatari Riyals

Qatar Public Works Authority – “Ashghal”, awarded the consortium Metito, Al Attiyah Motors & Trading Company, and Gulf Investment Corporation (GIC), the contract for the development, design, build, finance, and procurement of a 150,000 m³/day sewage treatment works (STW) project under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreement.  The 5.4 billion Qatari Riyals project, located in the areas of Al Wakrah and Al Wukair, marks the country’s first sewage treatment PPP project.

In an official signing ceremony held in Qatar yesterday, his Excellency Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Interior graced the signing ceremony for this historic project. His Excellency stated that the initiative of signing the contract of Al Wakrah and Al Wukair STW project is a culmination of the State’s efforts to consolidate the partnership between the public and private sectors, on the one hand, and attract and stimulate local and foreign investments on the other. This step also reflects the confidence that the State ties to the ability of the private sector to work side by side with the government sector to complete significant development projects in various fields, including infrastructure and water treatment projects.

Commenting on the contract award, Mutaz Ghandour, Chairman and CEO Metito, said, ” For decades, we have witnessed Qatar investing heavily to improve economic, social, human, and environmental outcomes for the country and this project is yet another milestone in this progressive journey.  Metito has been closely working with its Qatari stakeholders, developing projects since 1987, and being awarded this contract alongside our partners is a great honor and a testament of our commitment to play a leading role in enabling Qatar to achieve its ambitious water agenda”.

The Al Wakrah and Al Wukair STW project will contribute to the achievement of Qatar’s 2030 Vision to streamline water consumption and encourage the use of unconventional water resources. The consortium’s scope will involve the design, construction, and delivery of KAHRAMAA facilities, including a primary substation, initial commissioning, performance acceptance testing, and 25 years of operations and maintenance.

On this occasion, Abdul Aziz Al Attiya, Chairman of Al Attiyah Motors & Trading Company, said: “We are the largest shareholder in this consortium, which means providing an effective contribution to the capital, in addition to our decades-long experience working within Qatar. We are proud to be awarded this contract under a public-private partnership for the next 25 years, with the local and global expertise that our consortium has.”

Rami Ghandour, Managing Director Metito, added,” We are delighted to work in partnership with the Qatari government and our partners on this historic project. Impact investment is a key principle for Metito and its an honor to lead on a project that supports Qatar’s efforts to develop and implement a sustainable drainage infrastructure across the country.”

“Metito & partners will be investing the equity required, and Metito will be integrating the latest technologies as we invest close to 1 billion dollars. Through our experts, access to global resources, and extensive knowledge of the local Qatari requirements and specifications, we are confident we are absolutely the right partner to develop this strategic project”, concluded Rami Ghandour.

Meshary Al-Judaimi, Group Head – Principal Investment at GIC stated, “In line with its strategy to focus on sectors with high added value to the economies of the region, GIC has chosen the development of utilities and infrastructure projects as one of the most important sectors. There is no doubt that the state of Qatar, through the Public Works Authority, has demonstrated its ability to attract international, regional, and local private enterprises for the development of this important project.”

Walid Oraby, Metito Qatar Executive Director, added, ” With a local workforce of over 2200 employees and extensive operations in Qatar, we are very familiar with the local water sector and its challenges. Our understanding of local requirements backed by our strong engineering capabilities, and innovative technologies, will enable us to deliver a world-class project fitting of Qatar. We have worked extensively with Ashghal before, and we are excited for the opportunity to design and deliver this long-term sustainable project along with our partners.”

The Contract for the realization of the water treatment project in Zrenjanin was signed between Metito, the City of Zrenjanin and Serbia’s Public Water Company.

12 July 2022: The signing of the first public private partnership project for the realization of a water treatment plant facility in the Republic of Serbia, has been announced at an official ceremony earlier this week. Metito, a leading global provider of intelligent water and alternative energy management solutions, has been appointed by the City of Zrenjanin and Serbia’s Public Water Company (PWC), as the partner to develop, modernize and operate a state-of-the-art water treatment plant in the City of Zrenjanin.

The contract was signed by Metito Managing Director, Rami Ghandour, Mayor of the City of Zrenjanin, Simo Salapura, and PWC Acting Director, Predrag Bodiroga. The signing ceremony was attended by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia, Ana Brnabic, H. E. Ambassador of the UAE in Serbia, Mubarak Saeed Burshaid Al Dhaheri, Metito Vice President for Business Development, Walid Madwar, and Metito Country Manager for Serbia, Branislav Zec.

“With the signing of the Contract for realization of a water treatment project in Zrenjanin, we have taken a huge step towards solving a decades-long problem for the citizens of Zrenjanin. I would like to thank the Mayor of Zrenjanin and his team for their persistent efforts to find a solution to such a complex challenge together, and I also thank the Public Water Company and especially Metito Company, which, based on its experience in the water sector around the world and the innovative technologies it applies, will be our true partner on this project,” said Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia, Ana Brnabić.

The water quality challenge in Zrenjanin is a complex case and after thorough due diligence, Metito devised a sustainable and innovative solution that will see the company integrating state-of-the -art technology and leveraging its global resources and expertise while committing to environmental stewardship. Such strategic projects will help the Republic of Serbia achieve its Water Management Strategy in support of the country’s 2020-2025 Vision and sustainable development goals.

The Mayor of Zrenjanin, Simo Salapura, stated: “This Contract represents a double gain. We have as our partner a renowned company that has innovative technology, and the investment value of at least 18 million EUR. The biggest guarantee of this project will be the Government of the Republic of Serbia, and we have invested maximum caution and made sure to minimize risks for the city and citizens to the lowest possible level.”

Rami Ghandour, Metito Managing Director, commented: “We are honoured to work alongside the Serbian Government, the City of Zrenjanin and the Public Water Company on this strategic project. Over the course of six decades of global experience, a growing portfolio of over 3,000 projects across 50 countries, we have partnered with governments, worked with industries and communities to secure and manage their water needs. We are confident we can deliver this project, while keeping the health, safety and environment central to our sustainable operations.”

Metito currently has two active projects in Serbia with a planned investment of approximately EUR 50 million. Earlier in 2021, Metito launched its strategic operations in the Republic of Serbia, through investing in the Zrenjanin Wastewater Treatment Plant PPP.

Metito won the “Workspace Transformation Award” in the second edition of the Future Workspace Summit & Awards 2022. The awards celebrate outstanding companies that are leading innovation and transformation of workplace in the UAE.

Metito’s award reflects the agile, ever-evolving emphasis placed on digitization and impact operations, and keenness for the early adoption of new technologies such as cloud, which improves efficiencies across the organization.

Its forward-thinking approach to connecting offices, customers, partners, and users by deploying the SASE technology was also recognized as it helps to consolidate multiple products, solutions and security measures under a single platform.

Rami Ghandour, Metito Managing Director, was a panelist at the Uzbekistan International PPP Roundtable held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on the 20th of May 2022. The event discussed the progress and achievements of the PPP program by the Government of Uzbekistan, including large-scale investments and reforms.

At the event, Ghandour said: “Metito pioneered PPPs in the water and wastewater sector in seven countries, including UAE, Egypt, Rwanda, Saudi, Serbia, and Qatar. Our latest project is the Uzbekistan PPP for the Namangan City wastewater treatment plant where we will implement the latest innovations in energy-efficient, low-emission treatment processes and incorporate anaerobic technology to generate biogas as a by-product. This could later be used in power generation.”

“The technology incorporated into the Namangan project is expected to save about 10MW of power each day, which will reduce the overall carbon footprint by 1,400 tons per year, consuming 35% less power” added Rami.

Metito’s work on the Namangan City wastewater treatment plant involves designing, building, financing, operating, and maintaining a 100,000 m³/day wastewater treatment plant and constructing a new 7.5km effluent discharge pipeline in the Namangan district. The project worth USD 100 million is the first wastewater project to be implemented under the country’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Law undertaken by the Ministry of Housing and Communal Services with the Government’s full support.